Tempted - Dared by the Devil

Tempted - Dared by the Devil
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7Psalm 32 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11
Dared by the Devil. That’s the first part of what our scripture and message is about. Jesus being confronted with the taunts and persuasive manipulation by the Devil.
While we may not deny the existence of Jesus in this narrative, most of us scoff at the reality of the devil. We can joke and say, the devil made me do it. Who and what is this being who confronts Jesus? The Bible tells us that he came from God, wanted God’s power, rebelled, and started a war in heaven. Called Lucifer, he was named the Shining One, Lightbearer, and Morning Star. There is a successful TV series on Netflix called Lucifer. You might recall that a story about Hellertown, PA in the spring of 2023 that hit the papers when the Satanic Temple reached a settlement with the school district giving them the same access as other groups.
It is clear though that for this group, and not only this group, Satan is alive and well, and worthy of worship. Certainly, evil appears to be thriving in the devastating waste of an unprovoked war lasting three plus years in Ukraine and the death of citizens in Gaza.
This angel of God, the Bible tells us had a dramatic fall from Grace. Isaiah 14 describes this. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!”

The devil chose to tempt Jesus when he would be easy prey. Isolated, hungry, and weak – the perfect moment to trap him. Perhaps you’ve noticed how it seems that temptation comes when we are at are most fragile, maybe even desperate? When we are tired, sick, and lonely – that is when the devil of doubt creeps into our consciousness. In our vulnerability, we begin second guessing everything we do. We give up the core of ourselves where God resides and look desperately for substitutes. The truth about evil is that it is all lies. The late Reverend William Sloan Coffin, Jr from Yale University and New York City’s Riverside Church warns us:
Nothing is more dangerous than misunderstanding evil. Evil has an irremediable stubbornness about it. And it must be recognized, it has to be constrained, but it can never be resolved

Evil promises a lot. In today’s scripture the Devil challenges, taunts and provokes the vulnerable Jesus, claiming - I will satisfy your appetite. I will give you power and worship you. If you are a child of God, prove it! See if your God will save you!

For most of my young adult life, I thought the devil was a metaphor, a symbol. I did not think about the existence of the devil as a reality. It is not surprising when you look at the cartoonish way the devil is often depicted with horns and a pitchfork. The trouble is that evil comes in many disguises. Luckily, most of us have not encountered it firsthand. It can be a partner who becomes violent, date rape, stalking, a home invasion. Most of us, me included, want to live in a bubble we have created. The world is a safe place. Certainly, in our community. Bad things can never happen here.

As a neuropsychologist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, I began to have a change of heart about evil. I treated many victims of gunshots, strangulation, and stabbings, who often survived but suffered lasting brain damage. I was bombarded by catastrophes and the malevolent actions of one human being towards another. Greed, jealousy, power, status, hopelessness and despair appeared to be the driving forces behind these actions. Initially shocked by all of this, through prayer and soul-searching, I came to accept that the possibility of evil lies within each of us. It was a devastating reality to acknowledge. St. Augustine said,

Never fight evil as if it were something that arose
totally outside of yourself.

As Christians, when threatened by evil we are told in Ephesians 6 to: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes”
Dared by the Devil? The second theme of our scripture is that we better be prepared. Jesus, himself, does not rely on his own power and understanding but buffers himself with scripture three times to defeat the devil. Jesus again models for us that we must do to shun evil and choose the good. To fight temptation and evil, we are directed to the word of God. This is what fortified Jesus to keep his faith intact and refute temptation. Jesus prepared during his young adult life be ready to take up the mantle of his ministry for God. He was ready when the devil came calling upon him. We are encouraged to be ready as well.
This is not anything we really want to think about. We come to church for peace, looking for sanctuary, to feel better. Just like Jesus who went to the wilderness, to the mountains, filled with the Holy Spirit, to fast and meditate on his future mission. Not to be. He was not safe. In his hunger and weakness, he was all too human. The devil knew this. Jesus was prepared and we can be too. Prayer and Bible reading helps to shield us from evil.
When you feel your faith is undermined, be aware. Watch how easy it is for one sin to lead to another. Call on the armor of God to help you ward off temptation. Silence evil with righteous words and cripple it with Spirit-filled deeds. God’s grace is sufficient for us. (2 Cor. 12:9) Our Savior came to redeem us. During this Lenten Season, let us summon the Holy Spirit to lead us into diligently reading God’s word, reading your Lenten Devotions and having daily conversations with God. This is the pathway out of sin and evil. The Psalmist tells us
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (Psalm 62:5-6)

Thanks be to God. Amen.